Manhole



Aug. 16, 1927. W. s. FRAME MANHOLE Filed Nov. 24. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1WHL-EMMEN; E

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Aug- 16 1927' w. s. FRAME MANHOLE Filed Nov. 24, 1926 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2FIG.8

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FIGJO Parental Aug. '16, 1927.

UNITED @Ares WILLIAM S. FRAME, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

MANiIoLE.

.Application led Novemb'er 24;, 1926. Serial No. 150,442.

My invention relates to manholes, of the type used to permit access tosewers, drains, conduits, and the like.

It has been theV practice heretofore to construct the manholes commonlyused in city streets, and other locations, to permit access to drains,or water, gas, or electric mains, by first excavating a hole of suitablesize, and form, and then building a foundation of concrete,'on which iserected a wall of bricks and mortar. After the brick work is completed,it is customarily Waterproofed by a coating of tar, or other suitablematerial.

A cast iron section for supporting the manhole cover Hush with the'surface of the street or sidewalk, is then set in place.

The ordinary construction above described is open to the seriousdisadvantages that only highly skilled masons can be used, and much timeis lost in waiting for the cement foundation, and the motar in thewalls, to harden. A further disadvantage is that the great weight of thestructure necessitates a substantial and costly foundation. Where theearth is soft, or quick sand is encountered,

piling must be employed to support the.

foundation. I'

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a sectionalmanhole construction Which can be quickly installed without the use ofskilled labor; which can be economically manufactured and transported;which will be sufficiently light in weight kto permit an inexpensivefoundation t0 be employed for its support; which will rovide a simplemeans for accurately aligning the top of the manhole with the slope ofthe surface of the place of embedment; and which will provide means forraising or lowering the top of the manhole without the necessity ofdestroyingl the surrounding pavement.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical central sectionthrough a inanhole embodying my invention, the pavement and surroundingearth being also indicated in section; Fig. 2, a similar section throughthe top portion of a manhole embodying a horizontally tapered sectionused to bring the top of the manhole in alignment with the crown slopeof a road; Fig. 3, a central vertical section, through the top portionof a manhole, illustrating my improved means for raising and loweringthe top of the manhole; Figs. 4 and 5, similar'sections, illusti'atingstructural modifications; Fi 6 a vertical central section of a manhoa,bodying two horizontally tapered sections, disposed so as to give theupper rim of the top. section the maximum incline; Fig. 7, a view,similar to Fig. 6, the tapered sections being disposed t0 position theupper rim of the top section horizontal; Fig. 8, an isometric .view'ofone of the tapered sections shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a central verticalsection of a manhole, embodying two telescoping sections, and twounflangedv horizontally tapered spacing sections, interposedtherebetween, the spacing sections being disposed so as to give theupper rim of the top section the maximum incline; Fig. 10, a view,similar to Fig. 9, the spacing sections being disposed to position theupper rim of the top section horizontal; and, Fig. 11, an isometric Viewof one of the tapered spacing rings.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the'specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, the manhole isshown embedded in the earth, with its riin flush with the surface of theroad, 10. The in anhole embodies a foundation plate,` 11, which supportsai plurality of superposed sections,^l3, 14, l5, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Eachof the sections here shown is in the form of a cylindrical wall, butthey may be of any other cross section, and the tops of said sectionsare each formed with a peripheral olfset, or lip, to provide ahorizontal supporting surface, 20, for the bottom of a superpOSedsection, and a vertical flange, 21, adapted to prevent transversedisplacement of the sections, and to provide a space for a seal of tai',or the like, whereby a leak-proof joiiitui'e may be effected betweenabutting sections.

rlhe lowerinost section, 19, i'ests directly on the foundation plate,11.

To provide for the admission of pipes or' leads into the manhole,thewall of one of the sections, in this case section, 19, is formed withan opening communicating with an outwardly directed tubular extension,23.

Sonie of the sections, in this case the sections 18 and 19, are made ofgreater diameter than the other sections, to provide ample interiorspace.

The sections, 17 and 16, are tapered, or

substantially frusto-conical in form, to provide for va reduction in thediameteriiof44 the manhole, at its top.

The sections, 15, 14 and 13, are similar 1n diameter, which diameter isYless than that of the other sections, and they are of dlfferent depth,respectively. i

The peripheral offset at the top of section, 13, is adapted to receiveand retain a suitable cover plate, 24.

Referring to Fig. 2, the top sectiop, 13, 1s horizontally tapered, toprovide for aligning its cover -with the slopinor surfrice ot' a crownedroadway. It is to e understood that any of the sections may behorizontally tapered to effect the desired slope for the cover of themanhole.

InV practice, it sometimes happens that l the manhole, or the pavement,sinks, and' it is particularly desirable that means be pro-A vided toenable the top of the manhole to be raised or lowered without thenecesslty of destroying the surrounding pavement. To

this end, I have provided the constructions illustrated in Figs. 3, 4;and 5. Referring Fig. 3, a straight cylindrical section, 25, 1s shown assuperposedon section, 16. T elescopically fitted within the section, 25,1s a section, 26, the top of which forms a seat, 2T, for the cover, 24,and an outwardly d1- rected horizontal fiange, 28. Spacing secing thedepth of the spa-cing members, the

' top of the section, 25,*and the flange, 28. It

will be obvious that by adding, or taking out, a spacing member, ormembers, or varying the depth of the spacing members, the top of themanhole may be raised or lowered, to bring it Hush with the surface ofthe place of embedment.

Fig. 4 illustrates a structural modification, in which one of thebearing faces of section, 25, is inclined to the axis of the section, toeffect the desired slope for the cover of the manhole.

As shown in Fig. 5, the section, 25, rests on a supporting ring, 33,which, in turn, rests directly on any suitable base.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the top section, 34, and theintermediate section, 35, are each made in the form of a cylindricalband, and each.is provided with a bearing surface, or seat, 36,extending substantially around the band, and disposed substantiallythroughout in a plane inclined to the axis ofthe band. It will beobvious that by disposing the sections so that `the lowest portions ofthe inclined bearing per rim of the top, section will be positionedsubstantially horizontal, as'shown in Fig. 7. Obviously, any suitableincline may be given to the rim of the top section, by relatlvelyrotating the sections.

I n Figs 9 and 10, the cover section, yBZpis shown with a dependingflange, 38, which telescopes into the lower section, 39. AInterposedbetween the two sections are three spacing sections, two of which, 40and 41,

respectively, are each horizontally tapered to provide a bearing face,42, inclined to the axis of the section. By rotating the spacingsections, the upper rim o the cover section may be adjusted from thehorizontal position shown in Fig. 10, to the extreme inclined positionshown in Fig. 9.

Preferably, each of the sectionsis made of cast iron, which materialenables a construction of great strength, in proportion to its weight,to be produced, at a relatively low cost. It is within thecontemplationl of the invention, however, to form the sections of anyAother suitable material. So far as I am aware, it is broadly novel toemploy a horizontally tapered section to impart to the cover of themanhole a slope in accordance with the slope of the place of embedment.It is also broadly novel to provide means permitting the top of themanhole to be raised or lowered, without the necessity for destroyingthe surrounding pavement.

I claim as my invention and desire -to se- Vcure by Letters Patent:

1. A section of a sectional manhole, having the form ot an endlessband', and comprising an inclined bearing surface extendingsubstantially' entirely around the band, and disposed substantially,throughout its length in a planeinclined to the axis of the band.

2. A sectional manhole, embodying two sections, each having the form ofan endless band, and comprising an inclined bearing surface extendingsubstantially entirely around the band, and disposed substantiallythroughout its length in a plane inclined to the axis of the band, theinclined bearing surface of one section being juxtaposed to the inclinedbearing surface of the other section.- i

3. A sectional manhole, comprising two sections, one of which issuperposed on the other, each having the form of an endless n band, andeach having a bearing surface ex- 'j tending substantially entirelyaround the band, the two bearing surfaces being juxtaposed,one of thebearing surfaces being inclined to the axis of the section.

4. A sectional manhole, comprising two sections, one of which issuperposed on the other, each having the form of an endless band, andeach having a bearing surface extending entirely around the band, thetwo vbearing surfaces being juxtaposed, each bearing surface being.inclined to the axis of its section, the two sections being adjustableby relative rotation on their inclined bearing surfaces, to vary theplane of the upper rim of the top of the manhole.

5. A sectional manhole comprising two sections, each having the form ofan endless band, and each having a bearing surface extendingsubstantially entirely around the band, each bearing surface beinginclined to the axis of its section, the two sections being adjustableby relative rotation on their inclined bearing surfaces to vary theplane of the upper rim of the top of the manhole.

6. A sectional manhole, embodying a section having the form of a ring,and embodying a bearing surface extending substantially entirely aroundthe ring, and inclined uniformly from one diametrically opposed side ofthe ring to the other.

7 A sectional manhole, comprising a section, having the form of a ring,tapered uniformly from one diametrically opposed side to the other.

8. A sectional manhole, comprising a section, having the form of a ring,and embodying a bearing surface extending substantially around the ring,and disposed substantially throughout its length in a plane .inclined tothe axis of the section.

9. A sectional manhole, comprising a substantiall horizontal foundation,and a plurality o superposed ring shape sections, at least one of thesections having a seat concentric with the section, and so disposed andinclined as to incline the upper rim of the top section in accordancewith the incline of the surface of the place of embedment of themanhole.

10. A sectional manhole, comprising a top cylindrical section; a lowercylindrical section telescoping with the top section and a ring shapespacing section, bearing on the lower section, and encircling andsupporting the top section.

11. A sectional manhole, comprising a top cylindrical section; a lowercylindrical sect1on, telescoping with the top section; and a ring shapespacing section, bearing on the lower section, and encircling andsupporting the top section, one of the sections having a seat concentrictherewith, and so disposed and inclined as to incline the upper rim ofthe top section in accordance with the incline of the surface of theplace of embedment of the manhole.

12. A sectional manhole, comprising a top cylindrical section; a lowercylindrical section telesco ing with the top section; and a pluralityofP ring shape spacing sections, one of which bears on the lowersection, the said ring shape sections encirclingand supporting the topsection.

13. A sectional manhole, comprising a top cylindrical section; a lowercylindrical section telescoping with the top section; and a plurality ofring shape spacing sections, one of which bears on the lower section,the said ring shape sections enclosing and supporting the top section,at least one of the sections having a seat concentrictherewith, and sodisposed and'inclined as to incline the upper rim of the top section inaccordance with the incline of the place of embedment of the manhole.

14. A sectional manhole, comprising a top cylindrical section; a lowercylindrical section; and a frusto-conical section interposed between thesaid two sections, one of the sections having a seat concentrictherewith, and so disposed and inclined as to incline the upper rim ofthe top section in accordance with the incline of the place of embedmentof the manhole.

WILLIAM S. FRAME.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,639,495. Granted August 16, 1927, to

WILLIAM S. FRAME.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationofthe above-- numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 2,line 30, beginning with the syllable sec, strike out all to andincluding the word members in line 31 and insert instead sectz'om 29,30, 31 cmd 32, are fitted between; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of October, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Conv/nismiomr of Patents.

